Rose Conway Walsh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for attending. I understand the constraints he is under in the context of discussing this matter. I have a couple of broad points to make. Among the reasons given for taking the appeal against the Apple tax ruling and for the refusal to collect the money was that it may not all belong to Ireland. In light of Commissioner Vestager's comment that the vast majority of unpaid taxes would be due in Ireland and not to another EU country, does the Minister for Finance now accept that this can no longer be offered as a valid reason to go ahead with the appeal? I cite France and Germany in particular, both of which have clearly stated that they have no claim whatsoever to this tax. Can we take that reason off the table at this stage in the context of why we should appeal?